With Energy Absorber Patents (Class 280/805)
  • Patent number: 12325377
    Abstract: In an occupant protection device, an airbag disposed in a region of a lap belt of a seat belt includes a bag body and a conduit connected to an inflator disposed near a lower end of a seat portion of a seat. The airbag is held by the lap belt in a folded state. The conduit is disposed substantially along the lap belt while being held by a conduit holder. The conduit holder is formed of a material having flexibility and higher rigidity than the conduit, is disposed substantially along the conduit, and has both end sides fixed to a seat side and a bag body side, respectively, by a seat-side fixing portion or a bag body-side fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Yajima, Kenji Kakimoto
  • Patent number: 12263807
    Abstract: An adaptive load-limiting seatbelt assembly for a passenger vehicle includes a rotatable spool drum storing a length of seatbelt webbing and a piezoelectric device defining an interference fit between a pair of members of the piezoelectric device. The spool drum is operatively disconnected from the piezoelectric device during normal operation of the seatbelt assembly to permit free rotation of the spool drum and is operatively connected to the piezoelectric device during a dynamic event such as a vehicle crash so that the interference fit resists rotation of the spool drum in the pay-out direction to dynamically or statically control pay-out of the seatbelt webbing during the dynamic event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Inventor: Jean Alain van Poppel
  • Patent number: 12194952
    Abstract: A seatbelt system for an occupant of a vehicle comprises: an anchor point attached to a body of the vehicle; seatbelt webbing extending from the anchor point toward the occupant; and a dynamic guide for the seatbelt webbing positioned between the anchor point and a shoulder of the occupant, the dynamic guide comprising a lid attached to a base, the seatbelt webbing extending through the dynamic guide and exiting through an opening between the lid and the base, the dynamic guide configured so that the lid at least partially separates from the base at a first predetermined tension in the seatbelt webbing laterally in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrey Ivov Kossev, Alan Del Toro
  • Patent number: 12145483
    Abstract: A vehicle backrest structure includes a lateral handrail fixed within a vehicle cabin and extending horizontally, and a backrest having a cushion formed of a soft material and configured to receive a back portion of a wheelchair user in a wheelchair that is supported within the cabin of the vehicle. The backrest has a recessed part that is opened downward and is to be engaged with the lateral handrail. The backrest is configured to be removably supported on the lateral handrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Sekizuka
  • Patent number: 12139096
    Abstract: A rotary lap belt energy attenuator for reducing inertial loads on seat components. In embodiments, a shackle assembly includes a seat frame component, a shackle pivotally attached to the seat component and attachable to a lap belt component, a deformable link attached to the shackle and the seat component, an attachment guide configured to travel along the guideway, and an energy attenuator positioned in the guideway. In use, each of the deformable link and the energy attenuator undergo plastic deformation during rotary motion of the shackle to attenuate impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Sreekanth Rao, Pradeep Acharya, Mark B. Dowty, Maxime Dempah
  • Patent number: 12103491
    Abstract: A belt shaft housing (40) for a belt shaft of a seatbelt system comprises a shaft holder (42) for holding the belt shaft, a securing component (48) including a retaining portion (88), and at least one fixing element (74) that is configured to fasten the belt shaft within the shaft holder (42). The securing component (48) is fastened to the shaft holder (42) such that it can adopt an assembly position and a securing position, wherein the fixing element (74) is released in the assembly position and is secured to the shaft holder (42) in the securing position. Further, a belt shaft including a webbing, a belt pin and a sleeve-shaped axle is provided. There is moreover provided a belt tensioner, especially an end fitting tensioner, comprising such belt shaft housing (40) and such belt shaft as well as a method for assembling such belt tensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Betz
  • Patent number: 12036937
    Abstract: A lap expanding reactionary airbag apparatus includes separate expanding lap and chest portions of the airbag. When loaded in a frontal or oblique crash event, the two portions act as a reactionary surface against each other, reducing the chest velocity of a vehicle occupant, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupant. This restriction in forward movement results in reduced lumbar injuries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SCHROTH SAFETY PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Akoma, Manuel Marroquin, Kasey Garces
  • Patent number: 12036946
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a supporting and securing device that is fixed to a scooter-like vehicle or similar by means of a gripping mechanism to secure and grip a user of the vehicle. The device includes a mechanism configured to roll up and lock a belt that surrounds the user, securing and supporting him or her and surrounding a part of his or her back. The mechanism automatically adjusts to the user's position and includes a pressing assembly that allows the length of the unwound belt to be fixed, and a coupling element that connects to a main case. The disclosure also relates to the vehicle including the described device. The disclosure falls within the technical field of parts of vehicles, more specifically vehicle safety belts or harnesses or ease of use while driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Inventors: Sergey Kazakov Korshunova, Santiago Mompo Delgado de Molina, David Marti Alegre
  • Patent number: 12031603
    Abstract: The invention relates mainly to an energy absorber for an aircraft seat, notably for a helicopter seat, comprising at least one energy-absorption element having: a first anchor point and a second anchor point, an energy-absorption zone extending between the first anchor point and the second anchor point, said energy-absorption zone being able to stretch as a tensile load is applied between the first anchor point and the second anchor point, characterized in that the energy-absorption zone has a meshed structure comprising a plurality of strands connected to one another by junction portions, and in that at least one junction portion provides a junction between at least three strands of said energy-absorption zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Safran Seats
    Inventor: Julien Dhermand
  • Patent number: 12024116
    Abstract: In this buckle device, a base end portion of a belt is folded back on itself to form a ring-shaped portion, and the belt is wound onto a spool in a state in which the ring-shaped portion of the belt has been inserted through an insertion hole in the spool. This enables a winding radius of the belt to be increased by the base end portion of the belt and enables a load at which the belt is permitted to be pulled out to be reduced, when the belt is pulled out from the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamaguchi, Yoshio Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11975764
    Abstract: An automotive frame part is provided to a side portion of an automotive body and absorbs crashworthiness energy by bending upon receiving a crashworthiness load from a side of the automotive body. The automotive frame part includes: a member having a hat-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section and including a top portion, and a pair of side wall portions that are continuous from the top portion via punch shoulder R portions; and resin that is coated on or patched to an internal surface of the member having the hat-shaped cross section member or the U-shaped cross section. The resin extends at least to a predetermined range toward the top portion and the side wall portions on both sides of the punch shoulder R portions, and is adhered, after heating, to the internal surface at an adhesive strength of 10 MPa or higher at a room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Higai, Tsuyoshi Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 11970131
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor comprises a housing having a first end and a second end. The seatbelt retractor includes a spool having a first end and a second end each rotatably supported by the housing, the spool being elongated on an axis from the first end to the second end. The seatbelt retractor includes a torsion bar having a first end fixed to the first end of the spool and a second end operatively engaged with the housing. The torsion bar includes a wire elongated along the axis and connected to the first end of the torsion bar and the second end of the torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11643132
    Abstract: A method for optimising an energy-absorbing strap includes the steps of: (1) producing a single metal sheet, including a first connecting portion, for connecting to one of a support bracket and a fixed part of a vehicle, and a second connecting portion, for connecting to the other of the support bracket and the fixed part of the vehicle; and (2) producing a weakening in the single metal sheet to separate the first connecting portion from a tearable portion; bending a portion of the single metal sheet to produce a bent portion that interconnects the second connecting portion and the tearable portion, the second portion being bent back around in relation to the tearable portion; wherein the steps are selected to produce a desired energy-absorbance profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventors: Artur Wojtalik, Pawel Ponikiewski, Dawid Klimek, Lukasz Dudzic
  • Patent number: 11352065
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a floor assembly, a B-pillar assembly, a seatbelt tensioning mechanism, a seatbelt pre-tensioning device and a support bracket. The B-pillar assembly is attached to the floor assembly and extends upwardly from the floor assembly. The seatbelt tensioning mechanism is supported to the floor assembly adjacent to an intersection between the floor assembly and the B-pillar. The seatbelt pre-tensioning device is positioned adjacent to the seatbelt tensioning device. The support bracket is fixed to the B-pillar and the seatbelt pre-tensioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Alan Greggs
  • Patent number: 11242029
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a buckle provided on a side portion of a seat for a vehicle, and configured such that a tongue plate is inserted into the buckle; a buckle force limiter mechanism connected to the buckle via a connecting member having an elongate shape, the buckle force limiter mechanism being configured to allow the buckle to move in a pulling direction when a tensile load equal to or larger than a predetermined tensile load is applied to the buckle; and a case covering the connecting member from an inner side in a seat width direction, the case having a corner at an upper end portion of the case, the corner facing the connecting member, and the corner having an arc shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Daiki Furukawa, Yusuke Hirao, Yasuaki Kosugi, Shigekazu Imanaka, Hideki Kato, Katsuya Shimazu, Yoshio Mizuno, Shigeru Kotama, Hikaru Ikefuji
  • Patent number: 11131002
    Abstract: A method for producing a high strength tube part is provided. The method includes the acts of: producing a sheet metal blank, producing a tube part by cold forming the sheet metal blank, and hardening the tube part at least in some sections to a high strength tube part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Markus Pfestorf
  • Patent number: 10766451
    Abstract: A buffer device has a plate, a moveable ring, and an elastic member. The plate has an insertion hole formed through the plate, a connecting portion, and a retaining hole. The connecting portion and the retaining hole are formed on the plate and are located above the insertion hole of the plate. The moveable ring is moveably mounted out of a front side of the plate and has a slot. The slot is formed through the moveable ring. The elastic member is connected with the connecting portion of the plate and the moveable ring. A top section of the elastic member is wound on the connecting portion of the plate. A bottom section of the elastic member is wound on a top section of the moveable ring and passes through the slot of the moveable ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Liang-Hsiung Wang
  • Patent number: 10632963
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a spool, a piston, a cylinder, a ring, and a valve. The spool is rotatably connected with a base by the piston and the cylinder. The piston is fixed to one of the base and the spool. The cylinder receives the piston and is fixed to the other of the base and the spool. The piston and the cylinder define a first chamber. The ring is sealed against the cylinder and defines a second chamber connected with the first chamber by an aperture. The valve is disposed across the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Saeed David Barbat
  • Patent number: 10625710
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprises (a) a rotatable spool on which seat belt webbing is wound and (b) a load-limiting system to limit a load applied to a vehicle occupant by the webbing. The load-limiting system includes a flow control orifice through which fluid is forced when a load in excess of a predetermined load is applied to the rotatable spool by the webbing. The cross-sectional flow area of the flow control orifice is adjustable in response to unwinding of webbing from the rotatable spool prior to a vehicle crash event and ceases to be adjustable after the crash event is in progress. The load-limiting system also includes a piston in a cylinder. The piston and cylinder are operatively coupled to the spool such that rotation of the spool causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder, which movement causes fluid to be forced through the flow control orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Edgar H. Schlaps, George G. Moser, Adam Ostapowicz
  • Patent number: 10589711
    Abstract: A lap belt pretensioner for a lap belt configured to secure an occupant of a vehicle seat includes a pyrotechnic device. The pyrotechnic device is configured to generate a force directed to tension the lap belt around the occupant and emit an exhaust gas including particulates at high pressure and high temperature as a byproduct of the generated force. The lap belt pretensioner also includes a housing configured to retain the pyrotechnic device and defining an exhaust passage configured to expel the exhaust gas from the lap belt pretensioner. The lap belt pretensioner additionally includes a shield arranged over the exhaust passage and configured to collect and/or deflect the emitted particulates and dissipate heat energy thereof. A vehicle having the vehicle seat mounted to the vehicle structure and employing the seatbelt system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ingrid A. Rousseau, Megan E. McGovern, Teresa J. Rinker, Jeffrey J. Calderas, Kestutis Sonta
  • Patent number: 10513241
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for vehicle occupant safety during automotive collisions. The apparatus includes a plurality of compression elements rigidly fixed to a first seat belt guide and a second seat belt guide. The compression elements are arranged to resist compressive loading in response to an impact force, such as that experienced during rapid deceleration of a vehicle occupant in an automotive collision. When a pre-determined threshold force has been overcome, the compression elements predictably deform, thus absorbing energy associated with the deceleration. As a result of deformation of the compression elements, additional seat belt length is pulled from the apparatus, thus shielding the vehicle occupant from maximal injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Colby S. Williams
  • Patent number: 10246046
    Abstract: A vehicle seatbelt assembly includes a first member, a second member, a buckle mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The first member is configured to attach to one of a vehicle floor structure and a seat structure. The second member is supported on the first member. The second member is configured for limited sliding movement relative to the first member. The buckle mechanism is attached to the second member for movement therewith. The buckle mechanism has a latch device configured to releaseably retain a seatbelt latch tongue member. The clutch mechanism is disposed between the first member and the second member and is operable to switch between a dis-engaged state and an engaged state. In the dis-engaged state, the clutch mechanism allows movement of the second member relative to the first member. In the engaged state, the clutch mechanism prevents movement of the second member relative to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis Sharif
  • Patent number: 9862293
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle, including a seating part pivoting about a pivot connection, a pivot connection allowing the seating part to be lowered into a substantially horizontal position or lifted against a back rest, the lowering of the seating part being limited in the course thereof by at least one first abutment that can release the lowering following an impact, the being characterized in that the seating part includes at least two adjacent panels that can carry out a fold-back movement in relation to each other about an axis parallel to the pivot connection between the seating part and the back rest in such a way as to be able to bring the upper faces of the panels towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: David LeBaillif, Sébastien Carrie
  • Patent number: 9849859
    Abstract: In a buckle device, cord portions that are pulled out from a distal end portion in a longitudinal direction of a helical portion of a curl cord are electrically and mechanically connected to a terminal of a buckle switch of a buckle. The distal end portion in the longitudinal direction of the helical portion of the curl cord is held by a holding bracket that is provided at a first cover component of a buckle cover. Consequently, even when the buckle cover is moved, excellent connections can still be maintained between the cord portions of the curl cord and the terminal of the buckle switch of the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Koji Hayashi, Takuhiro Saito, Makoto Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 9821761
    Abstract: An image is received from an image sensor including an occupant's head and a webbing. A center line of the occupant is determined. A webbing payout length is determined based on the center line. A safety device is adjusted based at least in part on the webbing payout length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Patent number: 9573561
    Abstract: A vehicular seat belt assembly can include a pair of lateral webbing strips configured to extend laterally across a first portion of vehicular passenger, distal ends being statically secured to the vehicular support structure, and proximal ends being selectively connected to and disconnected from each other. A pair of upper body strips can be configured to contact a second portion the passenger. An anchor can be statically secured to the vehicular support structure, and configured to guide each of the upper body strips so as to enable a change in a direction of extension of the upper body strips, and to thereby absorb a portion of a load created by the force applied to the passenger and applied to the upper body strips. A retractor assembly can be configured to enable length adjustment of the upper body strips if the load is below a certain threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Muto, Adam Joseph Upah, Robert T. Wilson, III, Matthew Lee Taracko
  • Patent number: 9499116
    Abstract: An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant in frontal and oblique crashes. The occupant protection device operates an airbag and switches a load limiting restraint load of the seat belt between a first load limit value and a second lower load limit value. A switching unit switches the restraint load based upon the physique of the occupant, and lateral acceleration or movement of the occupant during an impact. The second load value is set for a small physique occupant. The load value is switched from the first to the second load value after a predetermined time if the lateral acceleration or occupant movement falls below predetermined levels. For a large physique occupant with lateral acceleration or movement exceeding predetermined levels, the load limiter does not switch to the second load value after the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Tatsuo Tada
  • Patent number: 9399481
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle includes a support unit connectable with the chassis of the motor vehicle, a securement part disposed between the side jaws of the support unit, a setting unit disposed between the side jaws of the support unit; a counter-securement part connected with the setting unit; and a clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism is operably engaged with the setting unit such that in the opened state of the clamping mechanism the setting unit is displaceable with respect to the support unit at least in a longitudinal direction of the steering column, and in the closed state of the clamping mechanism the setting unit is secured at a set position with respect to the support unit. In the event of a motor vehicle crash, the counter-securement part is shiftable with respect to the setting unit with the consumption of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Martin Oehri, Mathias Senn
  • Patent number: 9327681
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor including a belt shaft rotatably supported in a frame and two force-limiting devices acting in parallel. The first and the second part of the belt shaft axially overlap forming an annular space. The second force-limiting device is a band element abutting a radial outer wall of the annular space with a first section, and on the radial inner wall with a second section and is deflected in a deflection fitting between the first and the second sections (20, 21, 29, 30). During relative movement between the first and second parts, the band element can be unwound or wound up from the outer wall onto the inner wall or vice versa in an energy-dissipating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Singer, Ronald Jabusch
  • Patent number: 9283928
    Abstract: Disclosed is a load limiter mounted within a cylindrical spool on which a webbing is wound to constrain a load applied to the webbing from exceeding a preset load, the load limiter including: a first torsion bar inserted into a hollow portion formed at a center of the spool and one end of which is coupled to one end of the spool; and a second torsion bar one end of which is connected to an opposite end of the first torsion bar to be inserted into the hollow portion of the spool together with the first torsion bar and an opposite end of which is coupled to a locker installed at an opposite end of the spool, wherein the torsion bar is configured such that a torsion load limit of the first torsion bar is smaller than a torsion load limit of the second torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: WOOSHIN SAFETY SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Sang Lee, Yo Sun Hong, Jong Keun Lee, Kwang Mo Koo, Jung Woo Ha
  • Patent number: 9010808
    Abstract: A supplemental restraint system comprises a channel adapted to receive a seat belt, a first flange adapted to retain the seat belt formed on a first edge of the channel, a second flange adapted to retain the seat belt formed on a second edge of the channel opposite the first edge, and a pad connected to a bottom surface of the channel. The pad may have an internal compartment adapted to contain a pressurized fluid or may have a compressive element disposed therein. The pad may have a width between two-times and four-times a width of the seat belt. The supplemental restraint system may be deployed, both in a shoulder restraint segment of the seat belt and in a lap belt segment of the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Samuel D. Kampondeni
  • Patent number: 8998262
    Abstract: A device that limits a load of a seat belt includes various elements. For example, the device includes a seat-belt webbing and a shoulder anchor to which a portion of the webbing is secured. A button is attached to the webbing at a position that is a distance away from the portion secured to the shoulder anchor. The button is able to engage a lever, when the webbing is pulled out, to control energy absorption of the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Brian Robert Spahn, James Chih Cheng
  • Patent number: 8998261
    Abstract: A mounting structure for mounting a support for a seat belt to a vehicle, arranged so that when mounted to a vehicle it will move relative to the vehicle in a first range of directions under application of a first force urging the mounting structure in one of the range of directions, but will not move relative to the vehicle in a direction outside the first range of directions when a second, greater, force is applied urging the mounting structure in such a direction. The structure may have a bracket (7) secured to a vehicle by bolts (18) passing through slots (15) in the bracket, allowing the bracket to move generally in the direction of the slots, but not otherwise. De-couplers, in which toothed flanges (20) on collars (19) through which the bolts extend bear against raised pads on u-shaped washer structures (23) may be disposed between the bolt heads and the bracket to limit the force applied to the bracket and enable the applied force at which the bracket will move relative to the vehicle to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Bentley Motors Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Downie, Alexander James Redman
  • Patent number: 8955785
    Abstract: In a webbing winding device, a sub-torsion shaft is inserted from one side in the axial direction of a spool into the spool when assembling the sub-torsion shaft to the spool. Subsequently, by the sub-torsion shaft rotating in the winding direction, movement of the sub-torsion shaft with respect to the spool in the winding direction and in one side in the axial direction is inhibited. Subsequently, by a stopper being fitted from one side in the axial direction into insertion groove portions, movement of the sub-torsion shaft with respect to the spool in the pull out direction is inhibited. Accordingly, since the direction in which the sub-torsion shaft is assembled to the spool becomes only a direction parallel to the axial direction of the spool, the assembility of the sub-torsion shaft with respect to the spool may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Wataru Yanagawa, Yoshiaki Maekubo, Masaru Ukita
  • Publication number: 20150042136
    Abstract: The invention relates to device for providing a safety for passengers and to devices, providing the passenger comfort. There are disclosed variants of load limiter accomplishment for a restraint a passenger in a vehicle, which have a possibility to hold the preliminarily given force. The invention concerns a multi-passenger modular array of tiered passenger supports, having a several levels, means for attaching the modules, locking devices, attaching the modules to the vehicle floor, a drive mechanism for seats in the module, a mechanism for protecting the head of passenger, which is positioned on the seat. The means for providing the passenger comfort head are characterized by the position of steps in the modules, providing a sufficient space for free positioning the legs of the passenger in the upper and lower modules and in the zone of passage between rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Arjuna Indraeswaran Rajasingham, Arunan Rajasingham, Amrita Rajasingham
  • Patent number: 8905439
    Abstract: A torsion bar capable of torsional deformation, a ring arranged at a shaft end portion of a spool and connected rotatably integrally with an outer peripheral portion on the other side in an axial direction of the torsion bar, a plastic-deformable plate member having one end side fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the ring and the other end side being a free end in the vicinity of an inner peripheral portion of the shaft end portion of the spool, and a projecting portion which projects from an inner peripheral surface of the spool, which is brought into contact with the other end of the plate member after the torsion bar starts rotating integrally with the spool and an impact absorbing load of the torsion bar becomes constant due to torsional deformation, and which imparts a load for plastically deforming the plate member in further rotation of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 8870225
    Abstract: A safety device for a vehicle, which provides a more simple optimized mechanism to function as a load limiter having stable operation characteristics, and allows a reference load for releasing the webbing to vary depending on a change in collision speed, thereby providing increased protection to an occupant. More specifically, the safety device includes a roller, an electric generator, a magnetic force generator and a resistance generator. The roller comes in contact with a webbing and is configured to rotate with movement of the webbing. The electric generator generates electric current via the rotation of the roller, and the magnetic force generator generates a magnetic force via the electric current generated by the electric generator. The resistance force generator provides a resistance force to the rotation of the roller based on a shear force altered by the magnetic force generated by the magnetic force generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sung Jun Han
  • Patent number: 8851522
    Abstract: A seatbelt anchor assembly includes a ferrule, a cable, and seatbelt buckle. The ferrule can be mounted at one end to a seat base or other mounted structure of the vehicle, and can further include an anti-rotation pin that is received in a locating hole of the seat base to limit rotation of the ferrule during mounting and during normal occupant use. The pin can be made from aluminum or other material that can shear off in response to a dynamic vehicle load, allowing the ferrule to pivot about its mounting location to align the loads. The ferrule can be in the form of a blank including a body portion and a head portion having a pair of ears, and can include a recess between the ear portions and the body portion to limit tension in the ferrule when the ferrule is crimped to mount a cable thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David Srugis, Thomas Garvey, Nick Paglia, David Dziuda, Scott Bellman
  • Publication number: 20140265287
    Abstract: A supplemental restraint system comprises a channel adapted to receive a seat belt, a first flange adapted to retain the seat belt formed on a first edge of the channel, a second flange adapted to retain the seat belt formed on a second edge of the channel opposite the first edge, and a pad connected to a bottom surface of the channel. The pad may have an internal compartment adapted to contain a pressurized fluid or may have a compressive element disposed therein. The pad may have a width between two-times and four-times a width of the seat belt. The supplemental restraint system may be deployed, both in a shoulder restraint segment of the seat belt and in a lap belt segment of the seat belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Samuel D. Kampondeni
  • Publication number: 20140232166
    Abstract: Presented herein is a restraint system comprising an attachment point configured to attach to a hatch opening of a vehicle, a harness having a seat and a strap attached to the attachment point and to the seat. The harness is configured to accept an occupant and support a portion of the occupant at a position below the hatch opening. The restraint system further comprises an energy absorption mechanism configured to dampen rapid acceleration or deceleration of the occupant. The strap is attached to the attachment point by a quick release mechanism. The energy absorption mechanism may comprise a retraction mechanism having a damper mechanism that is a spring, a coil spring, a viscous fluid, a fluid having a dynamically changeable viscosity or a magnetorheological fluid. The energy absorption mechanism may comprise tear-away sections configured to dampen vehicle motion energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • Patent number: 8800735
    Abstract: A dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfaces with a child seat in a vehicle, engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable member(s) in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. The device may be further operable to limit or prevent restraint anchor displacement and the distortion of said deformable member(s) under quasi-static load conditions in order to meet motor vehicle static load/displacement anchorage performance requirements applicable to certain anchors. Anchor retraction capability and various interlocking configurations for securing the position of an anchor, before or after having extracted, may be incorporated relative to the energy management device interfacing with both a vehicle and a child seat. An indicator may further be provided to identify the functional state of the restraint device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Ruthinowski, Ian Brewster Hall, Parakrama V. Weerappuli, Brian Robert Spahn, Kevin Siasoco
  • Patent number: 8794672
    Abstract: A method of downscaling the travel-time-function of a reference body of mass mt in a spring-mass system with a spring providing a spring force when the spring-mass system is exposed to an acceleration field with an acceleration which moves the reference body against the spring force according to the travel-time-function is provided. In this method, the downscaling is done by coupling the reference body of mass mt to additional masses mr which are kinematically linked together in such a way that they do not react to acceleration field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Thomas Dramlitsch
  • Patent number: 8777268
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reversible belt tensioner (10) comprising a drive motor (12), a spindle (14) connected to the drive motor (12), a spindle nut (16) adapted to be displaced in axial direction (18) on the spindle (14), a catch (20) the one end of which is connected to the spindle nut (16) and a belt buckle (22) connected to the other end of the catch (20), wherein at least one of the following features prevents the spindle nut (16) from jamming during travel against block: a cylindrical guiding portion (50) inside the spindle nut (16) interacting with the outer geometry of the spindle (14); a freewheel mechanism (48) between the drive motor (12) and the spindle (14); a compression spring (70) between the belt buckle (22) and a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Artur Klein, Nathalie Kramer, Martin Prokscha, Stefano Roehm
  • Patent number: 8770624
    Abstract: A method of vehicular safety management is disclosed in which a garment or like product is worn by an occupant of the vehicle. The garment includes crushable elements which absorb or dissipate energy on fracture from impact. An article of manufacture is disclosed which is worn by a vehicle occupant during travel and which incorporates component elements which fracture on impact and thereby dissipate collision energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin L. Hollander
  • Patent number: 8714595
    Abstract: Seat belt systems and inflatable airbags can be used to mitigate the potential for injury to an occupant's neck. The seat belt systems provide for moderating the seat belt loads acting on the occupant to allow an improved synchronization of the occupant torso and head rebound timing, which in turn limits head and torso differential loading (frontal whiplash) and therefore occupant neck loads and neck, based on the position of the occupant, loads on the seatbelt, or a predetermined time in the crash event. Airbags are also provided with a sloped impact face. Additionally, airbags are also provided with a relatively flat top portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Edward Heasman, Bin Wang, Patrick Dee Jamison, Jeffrey D. Williams
  • Patent number: 8708370
    Abstract: A safety enhancement for a safety belt comprises an actuator housing mechanically coupled to a first end plate, a rotor blade, an orifice plate, a second end plate, a coil, and a spring cover by an actuator axel. The orifice plate comprises an orifice that allows hydraulic fluid to pass from a first side of the rotor blade to a second side of the rotor blade in order to increase or decrease tension on a safety belt to reduce user movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: John Barker
  • Patent number: 8684413
    Abstract: A pretensioning device (10) for a safety belt, of a motor vehicle, having a gas generator (17), a piston (21) guided in a tube (16), which closes a pressure area (20) in the tube (16) that is pressurized by the gas generator (17) whereupon the piston (21) is able to move in a pretensioning movement which is able to be conveyed to the safety belt by means of an inertia body (19a) resting on a front face (9) of the piston (21). The piston (21) forms a pass-through opening (1) releasable upon exceeding of a predetermined pressure and a recess (26) is provided in the front face (9) with an inertia body (19a) resting thereon, so that a flow connection is created from the pass-through opening (1) to the area (25) located behind the piston (21) in the direction of the pretensioning movement (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Thomas Schmidt, Martin Schmidt, Christian Fischer, Michael Pech, Matthias Steinberg, Tobias Voss
  • Patent number: 8678439
    Abstract: A seat belt connection device for a vehicle has a ring through which the seat belt can slide; the ring is supported by a member fixed to the front end of a stem, which extends along a substantially horizontal axis and is guided by a sleeve fixed in a hole of the pillar; the device also has a deformable structure that is fixed to the pillar and to one of the ends of the stem and is plastically deformable so as to allow the stem to retract in the event of an axial impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Marziani
  • Patent number: 8662537
    Abstract: A dilatant characteristic portion, that is structured to include a dilatant characteristic resin material, is provided at a portion of a webbing from a lap webbing portion to a portion that is further toward a shoulder webbing side than a through-hole of a tongue in a webbing applied state. When the webbing is pushed against an inner peripheral portion of the through-hole due to a body of a passenger pulling the webbing when a vehicle suddenly decelerates, the dilatant characteristic resin material hardens due to this load. Due thereto, flexure of the webbing when the webbing attempts to pass-through the through-hole and move is restricted, and therefore, the shoulder webbing passing-through the through-hole and moving toward a waist portion side of the passenger can be prevented or suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 8641090
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system comprising a seat belt webbing having a first end and a second end, the webbing configured to restrain the occupant; a member for anchoring the second end of the webbing; and an inflatable pretensioner having an inflator and an inflatable cushion that includes a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber, wherein the inflator is configured to inflate the first and second chambers of the cushion; wherein the first inflatable chamber is configured to deploy upon inflation to provide pretensioning of the webbing to restrain the secured occupant; wherein the second inflatable chamber is configured to deploy upon inflation to restrain the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton, Jonathan R. Kibat